DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903

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Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903

Page 186

186
(M. J. Keating)
Boston Show, Week of Feb. 16, 1903.
Stereopticon, 5 min. in 1 -- Usual collection of pictures.
Lew Wells, 16 min. opens full stage, closes in 1 -- Musical comedian of fair ability. He has quite a number of novelties in the musical line, but the comedy does not amount to much. It pleased the audience and proved to be the best opening act we have had for some time.
Reiff Bros. 12 min. in 1 -- Singers and dancers of more than average merit, the act being applauded all the way through.
Hallett Gilberte and Mildred Rogers, 18 min., open full stage, close in 1 -- This act fell down horribly, from the fact that both were extremely nervous. The talking portion of the sketch was very bad. Miss Rogers singing and Mr. Gilberte's piano playing were capital, but could not save the other portion of the work. In a straight musical act, they would be all right. I cancelled them.
Biograph, 15 min. in 1 -- They have hour new pictures this week, but not of sufficient interest to compensate for the eight "chestnuts" that accompanied. I must say that some of those old pictures were applauded, however.
Wartenburg, 10 min., full stage -- Hand balancer and foot juggler, presenting one of the best "sight" acts we have had for some time, the finish in which they manipulated four large balls with their feet, being particularly good, and arousing a considerable amount of enthusiasm.
W. D. Hall, 14 min. in 1 -- Blackface monologue and singing comedian, this being his first time here. He had a good line of talk, but his delivery was not such as to get the most out of it. Began to get laughter towards the end of his act, I expect he will go well during the balance of the week. Cut out a "gag" that was used in New York, one dwelling upon his mother-in-law having gone to a warmer clime.
James O. Barrows, John Lancaster and company, 22 min. full stage -- Presenting for the first time here their new sketch, "A Jolly Jollier", one of the brightest bits that has been done on the local stage for a long time. It ended with a bit of pathos that decidedly strengthened the comedy by the contrast it makes. Should make a big hit everywhere.
Spray Sisters, 13 min. in 1 -- Two attractive and becomingly gowned young women, one a blonde and the other a brunette. They had a good line of songs, the soprano making a decided hit, being the much better singer of the two. It is a very nice act.
W. C. Fields, 20 min., full stage -- Comedy juggler. Has some new tricks, the principal of which is a pool table on which he executes some impossible feats with balls, manipulated by strings, of course. He made a big laugh hit, and is one of the features of the show.
Crane Bros. and Belmont, 17 min. in 1 -- Presenting their amusing burlesque on the minstrels of the first part, which went very well, with the Monday afternoon audience.
Tom Nawn, 27 min. full stage -- Opened his engagement with "A Touch of Nature", but he act did not go so strong as formerly. Nawn, in his effort to be artistic, draws out his pauses unnecessarily, much to the detriment of the sketch. Think we will lift him up further on the bill.
Avery and Hart, 15 min. in 1 -- Doing their imitations of Williams and Walker, which is yet a long ways after the originals, although good enough to remind one of the better known colored entertainers.
Lockhart's Elephants, 23 min. full stage -- In the afternoon they held the audience wonderfully well, but the act received a black eye through the refusal of the animals to work with their usual alacrity, one that is supposed to cross the stage on the tops of bottles positively refusing to do so.
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Shaw, 12 min. in 1 -- Nice little dancing act, but hardly fit for this place in the bill, as it is too much of a drop from the preceding acts. Will arrange it differently tomorrow.
 Naomi Ethardo, 9 min. full stage -- Pretty "sight" act in the form of hand balancing and a little midair juggling.
Farrell and Furay, 15 min. in 1 -- Comedy singing and talking act, one man working straight and the other in grotesque make up. From a 3-a-day standpoint, the act may be considered fair.
Foreman and Nelson, 16 min. full stage -- This is a man and woman in a cmoedy acrobatic act, the man being made up as a clown while the woman works in short skirts. It is a very good act and tomorrow will have it follow the elephants, using the same set, which will avoid a delay, and carry the show along more logically.
Comment:-- The show is the best we have had for several weeks, and if we do not continue doing business, it will not be because of lack of attraction.

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186 (M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of Feb. 16, 1903. Stereopticon, 5 min. in 1 -- Usual collection of pictures. Lew Wells, 16 min. opens full stage, closes in 1 -- Musical comedian of fair ability. He has quite a number of novelties in the musical line, but the comedy does not amount to much. It pleased the audience and proved to be the best opening act we have had for some time. Reiff Bros. 12 min. in 1 -- Singers and dancers of more than average merit, the act being applauded all the way through. Hallett Gilberte and Mildred Rogers, 18 min., open full stage, close in 1 -- This act fell down horribly, from the fact that both were extremely nervous. The talking portion of the sketch was very bad. Miss Rogers singing and Mr. Gilberte's piano playing were capital, but could not save the other portion of the work. In a straight musical act, they would be all right. I cancelled them. Biograph, 15 min. in 1 -- They have hour new pictures this week, but not of sufficient interest to compensate for the eight "chestnuts" that accompanied. I must say that some of those old pictures were applauded, however. Wartenburg, 10 min., full stage -- Hand balancer and foot juggler, presenting one of the best "sight" acts we have had for some time, the finish in which they manipulated four large balls with their feet, being particularly good, and arousing a considerable amount of enthusiasm. W. D. Hall, 14 min. in 1 -- Blackface monologue and singing comedian, this being his first time here. He had a good line of talk, but his delivery was not such as to get the most out of it. Began to get laughter towards the end of his act, I expect he will go well during the balance of the week. Cut out a "gag" that was used in New York, one dwelling upon his mother-in-law having gone to a warmer clime. James O. Barrows, John Lancaster and company, 22 min. full stage -- Presenting for the first time here their new sketch, "A Jolly Jollier", one of the brightest bits that has been done on the local stage for a long time. It ended with a bit of pathos that decidedly strengthened the comedy by the contrast it makes. Should make a big hit everywhere. Spray Sisters, 13 min. in 1 -- Two attractive and becomingly gowned young women, one a blonde and the other a brunette. They had a good line of songs, the soprano making a decided hit, being the much better singer of the two. It is a very nice act. W. C. Fields, 20 min., full stage -- Comedy juggler. Has some new tricks, the principal of which is a pool table on which he executes some impossible feats with balls, manipulated by strings, of course. He made a big laugh hit, and is one of the features of the show. Crane Bros. and Belmont, 17 min. in 1 -- Presenting their amusing burlesque on the minstrels of the first part, which went very well, with the Monday afternoon audience. Tom Nawn, 27 min. full stage -- Opened his engagement with "A Touch of Nature", but he act did not go so strong as formerly. Nawn, in his effort to be artistic, draws out his pauses unnecessarily, much to the detriment of the sketch. Think we will lift him up further on the bill. Avery and Hart, 15 min. in 1 -- Doing their imitations of Williams and Walker, which is yet a long ways after the originals, although good enough to remind one of the better known colored entertainers. Lockhart's Elephants, 23 min. full stage -- In the afternoon they held the audience wonderfully well, but the act received a black eye through the refusal of the animals to work with their usual alacrity, one that is supposed to cross the stage on the tops of bottles positively refusing to do so. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Shaw, 12 min. in 1 -- Nice little dancing act, but hardly fit for this place in the bill, as it is too much of a drop from the preceding acts. Will arrange it differently tomorrow. Naomi Ethardo, 9 min. full stage -- Pretty "sight" act in the form of hand balancing and a little midair juggling. Farrell and Furay, 15 min. in 1 -- Comedy singing and talking act, one man working straight and the other in grotesque make up. From a 3-a-day standpoint, the act may be considered fair. Foreman and Nelson, 16 min. full stage -- This is a man and woman in a cmoedy acrobatic act, the man being made up as a clown while the woman works in short skirts. It is a very good act and tomorrow will have it follow the elephants, using the same set, which will avoid a delay, and carry the show along more logically. Comment:-- The show is the best we have had for several weeks, and if we do not continue doing business, it will not be because of lack of attraction.